AUBURN, Alabama -- The first quarterback off the bench this season will not necessarily be the quarterback who finished second behind Nick Marshall in Auburn's quarterback race.

Sophomore Jonathan Wallace will serve as the Tigers' backup this season, coach Gus Malzahn said Sunday.

"We felt like he had a really good camp and he will be the next guy in if something ever were to happen to Nick," Malzahn said. "We have a lot of confidence in him and his teammates do, too. He understands the offense and he understands the complete playbook."

Wallace threw for 720 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions in nine appearances last season as a true freshman. He set the school record for passing efficiency by a freshman and started the final four games.

Marshall and freshman Jeremy Johnson shared first-team snaps on offense for the latter half of camp before Marshall was named the starter Saturday. Malzahn labeled Johnson as a "2A" at the position, although Wallace will be the true backup.

"He made it interesting," Malzahn said of Johnson. "It's very hard to do, for a true freshman to make it interesting, but that says a lot about him."

The hope is that Johnson can redshirt this season if both Marshall and Wallace remain healthy. The dual-threat option out of Montgomery-Carvery will stick with the offense and will not work with the scout team this season. He will also travel to all road games.

"It’s a great luxury to go into the first game with a guy we have confidence in, that if he goes into the game, he’s going to be able to get everything right and execute and all that," Malzahn said of Wallace. "I think we’re in really good shape right now going into the season. Like I said, Jeremy Johnson, if he keeps improving, he can be ready also. We've got three guys we feel really good about."